Feeding apparatus for the delivery of receptacles to filling apparatus or the like



Aug. 26, 1930. J, JACKSON 1,773,781

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR THE DELIVERY OF RECEPTACLES TO FILLING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE Filed JuIySO, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 '8, Wanda;

Aug. 26, 1930. J, JACKSON 1,773,781

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR THE-DELIVERY 01" RBCEPTACLES T0 FILLING APPARATUS on In: LIKE Filed July 50,- 1928 3 Shoots-Sheet 2 Arron/yen:

Aug. 26, 1930. J. G. JACKSON 1,773,781-

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR THE DELIVERY OF RECEP'IACLES T0 FILLING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE Filed July ,50, 1928 3 Sheets-She et '3 Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITED smra JAMESGEORGE .zraoKsou, or srnvtansron, SCOTLAND, assrsnon r0 nqIy DU Pon'i' PAT Mm-aa- DE N EMOURS & COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON', DELAWARE FEEDING APPARATUS FOR THE DELIVERY OF RECEPTACLES T0 FILLING APPARATUS OR LIKE Application filed Ju1y'30, 1928, Serial No. 296,206, and in Great Britain AugustlZ, 1927.

This invention refers to'feeding apparatus for the delivery of tubular cylindrlcal receptacles, hereinafter referred to as tubular re ceptacles, to filling devices or the like, hereinafter referred to generally as fillers,w1th which the tubular receptacles are required to be assembled by application endwise, a re.- ceptacle upon a filler, a group of fillers being provided, the fillers of a group being parallel to one another and spaced apart, the intervening spaces generally being equal. 1 i In the claims such apparatus will be referred to as apparatus of the type definedfor the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling dethe stack, the third, the fifth, and so on. Normally, and in the initial process of delivery, the second, the. fourth, and so on, intervening receptacles, act temporarily as spacing members, and after removal of the first, third and so on, the stack is restored'by other receptacles moving down. Thus, the receptacles of a stack are arranged in single file. Further, provision may be made for reliev ing thelower receptacles in a stack from part of the weight of those above. Further, the invention relates to means for pushing the receptacles from a stack, to means, for guld ng a receptacle as it passes'out of a stack onto a filler, and for affording external support to a receptacle in the process of its being assembled with a filler.

By way of example according to this ins vention a hopper is provided having a pas sage (or passages) of a width corresponding approximately with the outside diameter of a receptacle. This passage extends downwardly, isopen at its upper end andis closed at its lower end, so that tubular receptacles may be introduced at the upper end and be stacked in the passage, lying horizontally, one against another, .one, the first, resting against the closed lower end of the passage, the second receptacle against the first, and so on. The passage mightlextend vertically downwards, but generally for receptacles of an easily deformable nature the passage is not vertical or a part of it is not vertical, for

example, it is inclined. Ina vertical passage the first receptacle would be subjected to the i weight of those stacked above it, whereas in an inclined passage the weight to which the t ll lower receptacles would be subjected is rey duced. I

- The front and the back of a hopper of this 'lilllCl have apertures located co-axially with the positions which alternate receptacles in the lower part of "the stack occupy in the passage from which deli-very is tobe made,

and inmalring provision for pushing a tubular receptacle endwise from a stack onto a tubularfiller, the .filler is situatedco-axially with an aperture at the front of the hopper and extends horizontally being in alignment or approximately so with the receptacle in the stack. Thus, aiirst filler is situated endwise opposite a'first receptacle, and, if there is more than one filler, a second filler opposite the thlrd receptacle, and, if there are more than two fillers, a third filler opposite the fifth receptacle,and so on. Thus, in the case of two or more fillers, receptacles in a stack-act as distancing members for receptacles which are to be pushed out endwise. In construction, series of passages may be provided. For example, the passages may extend downwardly to positions which at their lower ends are 1n vertical or approxiinately vertical alignment, and two complementary series of passages may be provided extending from positions at the upper end on opposite sides of a vertical central line.

F r pushing the receptacles endwise from a'hopper, plungers are provided one for each receptacle to be fed forward. .Thus, for a series of passages a group of plungers are provided. lVith tubular receptacles closed at one end, the back end, the plungers are formed to act against the back ends.

l/Vith apparatus according to this invention provision may be made for guiding a receptacle as it is pushed from its passage and for affording it support.

To ensure that the receptacles stack properly, one resting on the one below, they may be subjected to vibration, say, when the plungers are withdrawn. For example, one or both sides of a passage, say the upper parts, the vertical parts only of a passage, may be reciprocated while the plungers are withdrawn. Further, the hopper may comprise a feed portion and a bulk supply container, with provision for intermittently supplementing the supply, say, by valve control, from the bulk supply container to the feed portion.

An example of apparatus according to this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional front elevation, and Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are diagrams, longitudinal sectional side elevations, illustrating the process of operation.

Figure 7 is a side elevation showing a detail of mechanism.

The drawings show :Tubular receptacles A. Hopper B. Passages C in hopper B Plungers D. Guide E. Fillers F. Each passa 'e C is open at its upper end, is closed at its lower. its upper part is vertical and its lower part inclined. Two series of passages are shown arranged substantially symmetrically on opposite sides of a vertical central inc. In each series the closed lower ends of the passages are in alignment vertically. Walls 3 of the upper parts of the passages are movable vertically and are connected by a frame 4 with the piston of a cylinder 5 by which they are reciprocated.

Tn Figure l tubular receptacles A are shown stacked in the passages (j. For each passage in the back of the hopper B, see Figures 36 apertures 6 are formed and in the front a ertu 7. these apertures are situated co-a tially with the positions which alternate t bular receptacles 2 occupv in the passages. The plungers D and fillers F are co-axial with the apertures 6 7 and tubular receptacles 2. The plungers D. see Figure 2, are carried upon a crosshead 8 which is connected by a rod with the piston of a cylinder 9. by which they are moved endwise. The guide E. see F gures and 343, s tuated at the front 7f the hopper is formed with tapered apertures 10 which are co-axial with the apertures 6. 7. and is movable endwise away from and towards the front of the oppcr. For this purpose as indicated at Figure 7, trip devices are provided, one at each side, each consisting of a link G which by slot and pin 3.3 is connected with crosshead 8, pin 13 being 8, and link G, by latch and pin 14; engages with guide E, pin 14% being on guide E, and for the link a step 15 is provided.

Figures 3, 4. 5, and 6 illustrate positions and process of operation. Thus, Figure 3 shows part of a passage C, a tubular receptacle 2, whicn is closed at its back end 2 and one other receptacle A in the passage above 2, and with he plunger D and guide E in what may be termed their first positions. Figure 4 shows a second position, resulting from movement endwise ot' plunger D, while guide E stands close to the front of hopper B and is stationary, receptacle 2 having been moved so that its front has passed through aperture 7 and been moved to the delivery end of aperture 10, in this movement, see Figure l 7, pin 13 will have travelled from left to right in its slot in link Gr. Figure 5 shows a third position, resulting from movement endwise together, forwardly of plunger D, receptacle 2, and guide E, which brings the front end of receptacle 2 to the outer end of filler F to which it is to be applied, in this movementlink G moves with pin 13 and near the end of this movement link (3r by riding up step 15 is disengaged from pin 14, whereby guide is left to stand stationary. Figure 6 shows the delivery of the receptacle 2 onto filler F,

. completed, in the process of which guide E,

remains stationary while plunger D acts to move receptacle 2 cndwise onto filler F, and plunger D in this condition acts temporarily for the support of receptacle A... 'At erwards the plunger D is withdrawn from the passage, and as soon as withdrawn the walls 3 are reciprocated, cylinder 5 beincj brought into action, and the conditions indi cated at Figure 3 are again established.

In Figure 1 there is shown a b lk supply container H provided with a shutter base 16. A container of this kind may be kept ready charged so that when the supplv has been worked down to the top of hopper B, working may be continued while the empty container H is removed and another charged container H is placed in position, its shutter 16 is then withdrawn and the supply to hopper B renewed.

I claim 1. Apparatus of the type defined for the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling vices, com] rising a hopper having us 'es for maintaining tubular receptacles, stacked, lying horizontally, one higher than another, and means for moving a ternat r ceptacles endwise from the stack for delJery onto fil ers.

2. Apparatus of the type defined for the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling devices, comprising a hopper having passages for maintaining tubular receptacles, stacked,

lying horizontally,.one higher than another, the passages being formed so that lower receptacles in a stack are relieved from part of the weight of those above, and means for moving alternate receptaclesv endwise from the stack for delivery onto fillers;

3. Apparatus of the type defined; for the, delivery of'tubular receptaclesto filling devices, comprising a hopper having passages for maintaining tubular. receptacles, stacked, lying horizontally, one higher than another,

the lower part of each passage being in clined, and meansfor moving alternate receptacles endwise from the stack for delivery onto fillers. i

4. Apparatus of the type defined for the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling devices, comprising a hopper having passages for maintaining tubular receptacles, stacked, lying horizontally, one higher than another, the upper part of each passage being vertical, the lower part of each passage being inclined,

and means for moving alternate receptacles endwise from the stackfor delivery onto fillers.

5. Apparatus of the type defined for the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling devices, comprising a hopper having passages for maintaining tubular receptacles, stacked, lying horizontally, one higher than another, means for subjecting receptacles in the passages to agitation, and means for moving alternate receptacles endwise from the stack for delivery onto fillers.

6. Apparatus of thetype defined for the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling devices, comprising a hopper having passages for maintaining tubular receptacles, stacked, lying horizontally, one higher than another, a wall of each passage being movable, reciprocated, and means for moving alternate receptacles enclwise from the stack for delivery onto fillers.

7. Apparatus of the type defined for the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling devices, comprising a hopper having passages for maintaining tubular receptacles, stacked, lying horizontally, one higher than another, the hopper having a feed portion, a bulk supply container for the feed port-ion of the hopper, and means for moving alternate receptacles endwise from the'stack for delivery onto fillers.

8. Apparatus of the type defined for the I delivery of tubular receptacles to filling devices, compriisng a hopper having passages for maintainlng tubular receptacles, stacked,

lying horizontally, one higher than another,

means for moving alternate receptacles endwise from the stack for delivery onto fillers, and means for guiding and affording support to each receptacle as it is moved endwise from its stack.

9. Apparatus of the type defined for the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling devices, comprising a hopper having passages for maintaining tubular receptacles, stacked, lying horizontally, one higher than another, means for moving alternate receptaclesendwise from the stack for delivery onto fillers,

a guide presenting for each receptacle in p I delivery a. bore tapered at its entry end and at its dischargeend of substantiallythe same diameter as the outside of a receptacle, for the purposes set forth. V p

10. Apparatus of the type definedfor the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling devices, comprising a hopper having passages formaintaining tubular receptacles, stacked,

' lyinghorizontally, one higher than another,

means for moving alternatereceptacles end-- wise from the stack for delivery onto fillers,

guide means'for guiding and affording support to each receptacle as it is moved endwise from its stack, and means for'operating said guide means, whereby 1n the process of the delivery of a receptacle said guidemeans are held stationary to receive the front end of thereceptacle, thenare moved forwardlywith the receptacle to bring the front" end of the receptacle over the end of its filler and then are held stationary during the completion ofdelivery onto the filler.

11. Apparatus of the type defined forzthe delivery of tubular receptacles to filling de vices, comprising a hopper having passages,

each passage extending downwardly andof a width corresponding approximately with the diameter of a receptacle, the passages being open at their upper ends and closed at their lower ends, apertures in the front and in the'back of thehopper in' the region of the lower part of each passage from which delivery is to be made,,said apertures being coaxial with the positions which alternate tubular receptaclesstacked, lying horizontally, one against another, occupy a passage, a group of plungers the back of the hopper and a group of fillers at the front of the hopper, the plungers and fillers being coaxial with the apertures, the plungers being movable endwise forwardly for pushingalternate receptacles endwise from the pastheir lower ends and thelower part of each passage being inclined, apertures in the front and in the back of the hopper in the region of the lower part of each passage from which delivery is to be made, said passages being co-axial with the positions which alternate tubular receptacles stacked, lying horizontally, one against another, occupy in a passage, a group of plungers at the back of the hopper and group of fillers at the front of the hopper, the plungers and fillers being coaxial with the apertures, the plungers being movable endwise forwardly for pushing alternate receptacles endwise from the passages, the fillers being located with their ends at the front of the hopper for the receptacles to pass onto, and the plungers being movable endwise backwardly for withdrawal from the passages.

13. Apparatus of the type defined for the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling devices, comprising a hopper having passages, each passage extending downwardly and of a width corresponding approximately with the diameter of a receptacle, the passages being open at their upper ends and closed at their lower ends. the upper part of each passage being vertical, the lower part of each passage being inclined, the u per parts of the passages being substantially symmetrical on opposite sides of a vertical central line and their closed lower ends extending to or near the vertical central line. apertures in the front and in the back of the hopper, in the region of the lower part of each passage from which delivery is to be made. said passages being (o-axial with the positions which alternate tubular receptacles stacked, lying horizontally, one against another, oceupv in a passage. a group of plungers at the hack of the hopper and a gro p of fillers at the front of th ho per. the plunsers and fillers bein r coaxial with the apertures. the lungers being movable endwise forwardly for pushing alternate receptacles endwise from the passages. the tillers b ing located With their ends at the front of the hopper for the receptacles to pass onto. and the plungers be ing movable endwise backwardly for withdrawal from the passages.

14. Apparatus of the type defined for the delivery of tubular receptacles to filling devices, comprising a hopper, having passages, each passage extending downwardly and of a width corresponding approximately with the diameter of a receptacle, the passages being open at their upper ends and closed at their lower ends, apertures in the front and in the back of the hopper, in the region of the lower part of each passage from which delivery is to be made, said passages being coaxial with the positions which alternate tubular receptacles stacked, lying horizontally, one against another, occupy in a passage, a group of plungers at the back of the hopper and a group of fillers at the front of the hopper, the pli'ingers and fillers being co-axial with the apertures, the plungers being lnovable endwise forwardly for pushing alternate receptacles endwise from the passages, the

JAMES GEORGE JACKSON. 

